Page 8 of Smitten With My Brother’s Best Friend (SEALs of Aster Falls #1)

(Maverick)

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“What’s up, bro,” I say, coming up behind Adam and throwing an arm over his shoulder.

He pushes my hand off and gives me an uneasy smile.

“Hey.”

Something’s wrong. I’ve known Adam my whole life and I can tell when he isn’t all right.

“What’s wrong?” I ask

He frowns. “Am I really that transparent? And why are you so chipper?” he asks as I sit beside him.

This bar is fast becoming our spot.

“I’m happy, sue me,” I tell him, shrugging.

He doesn’t need to know that I’m so happy because I fucked his sister yesterday. Or the fact that I called her early this morning, and we talked on the phone for over an hour. It wasn’t even about anything serious, but it was nice. It was nice talking to her.

“It’s weird. Why are you so happy when I’m downright depressed?” he states, groaning.

He takes a long gulp of the drink in front of him, and I finally get the good sense to be worried.

“Adam, what happened?” I ask.

He runs a hand through his short blonde hair.

“I don’t know, man. Lisa and I are having some problems, and I don’t know how to fix it,” he answers.

Oh. If that’s the problem, then I’m officially not worried. They’re Adam and Lisa. Soulmates. They always find their way back to each other eventually.

“I’m sure it’ll be fine,” I tell him, slipping back into my good mood.

“Yeah, you’re right. You don’t date someone for eight years to suddenly break up with them. That’s ridiculous,” he says, chuckling.

“Exactly.”

“Hey, man. I have a question,” I say.

Adam looks at me curiously.

“What’s up?”

“How did you know Lisa was the one? How did it feel?”

It’s a bad idea to be asking him this question, especially when it’s about his sister, but I don’t know who else to ask.

His brown eyes gleam.

“Are you seeing someone, Mav?”

“Maybe,” I say, shrugging.

Eventually, he’s going to find out about Taylor and me but for now, he can’t know.

“Well color me intrigued. When the hell did this happen?”

“I can’t tell you who it is yet, but I really like her,” I confess.

Adam is visibly surprised.

‘Damn,” he says under his breath.

“What?”

“Nothing. I just never thought I would see you in love. It’s a good look on you.”

I smirk.

“Thanks.”

“But now I’m hella curious about the girl. As long it’s not my sister, though, I’m good.”

I stiffen.

“Why can’t it be your sister?” I ask, trying to sound aloof.

“Because she just got out of a relationship with a dickhead, and I’m not sure if she’s ready for another relationship.

Especially with you, Mav. You’re not the easiest person to love.

Your default setting is pushing people away before they get too close, and few people ever cross that bridge.

Also, I’ve never seen you care about anyone other than your mom and me.

You’re not good at opening up. I love you, man, but my sister doesn’t need that kind of headache. ”

The Miller siblings are blunt as fuck. I’ve always been okay with it. I usually appreciate Adam’s brutal honesty, but I would be lying if I said that didn’t hurt.

He notices too.

“Hey, I’m sorry about that. Fuck, I didn’t mean to say it like that.

You’re awesome, and I’m sure you’ll make your new girl happy.

In relation to Taylor, though, you would be a bad idea.

She’s in a fragile state because of her ex.

You should have seen how sad she was when you dropped her off that day.

I don’t want her hurt. She’s still my little sister. ”

“I got it,” I tell him, my voice low and cold.

Taylor wasn’t sad because of her douchebag of an ex. She was sad because of our argument. I know I’m not the best person in the world, but I would rather die than hurt her. She has slowly become important to me, and I’ll be damned if I let her go.

“To answer your question though, you’ll know you’re in love with someone when you can’t imagine your future without them. In every scenario, they’re right there beside you,” he tells me.

Adam’s in much better spirits by the time we’re ready to leave.

He tells me he’s going to spend the night at Lisa’s place.

I immediately feel a thrill shoot through me.

If he’s going there, then that means there won’t be anyone with Taylor at their house.

According to my mom, their mom will be spending the night at her house.

They just discovered something special or some shit, and they’re asking for a professional’s input.

These days, my mom has been spouting a whole lot of nonsense about love and some flower, and I haven’t had the time to pay her any attention.

I’m thinking about what Adam said throughout the drive to their house.

I’m not sure what my future holds, so it’s a little hard to imagine Taylor in it beside me.

She lives in New York and works for a big company, and I’m a Navy SEAL that’s based in Aster Falls.

We’re on completely different paths. All I know is that I have inexplicable feelings now, and I want to be around her all the damn time.

I ring the doorbell, and just as I had been expecting, her amber-colored eyes widen in surprise.

“You couldn’t call before coming over?” she asks, stepping back to let me in.

“A little birdy told me you’d be all alone tonight, so I came to keep you company,” I tell her.

She shakes her head.

“You can’t just barge in here and expect me- “

I cut off her next words with a kiss that quickly turns into something more. Then I force myself to step away from her. I can’t just walk in here and sleep with her. She’ll think I only want her for the sex.

“I came to keep you company. In case you got lonely.”

I give her a pout, so she thinks I’m cute and doesn’t kick me out. She lets out a relenting sigh.

“Fine. I kind of missed you too,” she says before walking towards the living room and falling onto the couch.

I sit beside her, pulling her head into my chest. It’s comfortable.

“What are we watching?” I asked, glancing at the television screen. It’s paused to the opening credits of the show she was watching.

“Keeping up,” she answers shortly.

“Keeping up with what?”

“With the Kardashians.”

I only vaguely know the show she’s talking about, but I know I hate it.

“Isn’t that the show about the super-rich chicks with huge asses?” I ask.

She snorts.

“That is an apt description.”

“It’s a horrible show.”

“It’s not that bad. I usually watch it to pass the time, and it can be a little addictive,” she tells me with a shrug.

“Please tell me you won’t make me watch it. We can watch anything else. The Avengers or Maze runner or something,” I plead, but she shakes her head.

“My house, my couch. My rules,” she states.

And so I find myself watching the show with her. She’s right, though. It’s surprisingly fun to watch their terrible acting and fake lives. We comment on some funny stuff, and Taylor even makes popcorn. I’m having more fun than I’ve had in a long time.

We’ve moved on to twenty questions. It doesn’t escape my notice that she seems to know almost everything about me while I don’t know much about her. Growing up, I was an uncaring ass, and she seems to have paid a lot more attention to me than I thought.

“Favorite childhood memory?” I ask her.

She smiles fondly.

“It was a football game. You were quarterback, and Adam was wide receiver. The game was about to end, and our team was losing. You had one more play left, and everyone was sure you would lose it. Then the both of you worked together and ended up winning the game for the team. I remember how happy and excited both of you were—especially you. You were smiling so widely. You never used to smile a lot back then.”

My throat tightens. I can’t believe she remembers that or that she thought that. Damn, what did I do to deserve her?

“How about you?” she asks.

“I don’t think anything I say could actually beat that, Tay. You’re pretty amazing. You know that, right?”

She smiles.

“I know. It just took you long enough to realize it. I’m more than just Adam’s little sister,” she states.

I pull her onto my lap so she can feel how much she affects me and how much I’ve begun to care.

“You’re so much more than that,” I say as I kiss her.